In response to Saturday's dismal show versus Plymouth, Ward was finally re-called to the defence, while Hall played at left-back, with Fox moving up to the left side of midfield. Three youngsters were on the bench alongside, Marshall (Who had been expected to replace Westwood), and Turner.

The fact that Coventry City did not seem to be up for the challenge of showing why they will hopefully be one division above Charlton next season was almost as disappointing as the fact Charlton didn't put up any sort of fight to try and stay in the Championship .... which was only beaten in the disappointment stakes by the pathetic turn-out of Charlton fans in the away section

The quality of football really was absolutely dire again, with the morgue like atmosphere around the ground only rising above the noise of individual conversation when a Charlton goal was disallowed, and the loudest cheer of the first half came when it was announced that there would only be one minute's injury time added.

First half incidents worthy of note were: one goal-mouth scramble that Coventry should have done better with on 21 minutes; a quality passage of passing play from Coventry City, which ended when Doyle passed back to Westwood from the half-way line; and a decent Morrison run and cross which Charlton cleared for a corner. Absolutely nothing else happened for the other three hours that the first half seemed to last for....

Things improved during the half-time break when the compere's microphone broke, and we were spared the normal inane prattle.

The second half started equally as badly, with the first two incidents worthy of note being (a) a fairly full-scale flare-up between both sets of players on 50 minutes, and (b) a slightly more 'handbags' incident after 55 minutes.

Jonjo Shelvey had a decent run into the Coventry area after 57 minutes, but saw his effort go out for a corner, then a bizarre free kick awarded to Charlton saw a set-piece every bit as dismal as the game itself. Michael Doyle then had a decent effort for the home side, and soon after Kevin Thornton, who was certainly no worse than anybody else for the home side, was replaced by Ashley Cain.

This would have been most supporters first viewing of the U18 Player Of The Season, and most - if not all - would have been impressed with his contribution, causing more problems to the Charlton defence in twenty-five minutes than the rest of the Coventry side managed between them thoughout the ninety.

Charlton's best chance of the match came a minute after Cain had just failed to join the ranks of Coventry City players averaging a goal every half-an-hour, with Bailey hitting a post, and Elliott Ward clearing the danger.

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